Equinor, Norwegian partners look at blue ammonia options at Hammerfest

Equinor and fellow Norwegian companies Var Energi and Horisont Energi have partnered to explore the potential production of blue ammonia from natural gas production at Hammerfest in the country's far north, the companies said on September 9.

The group also envisage establishing CO₂ capture and storage facilities in Hammerfest, situated on the shore of the Barents Sea. Var Energi operates the offshore Goliat and Alke licences in the area, which mainly contain oil but also hold some 25bn m³ of gas that can serve as feedstock for ammonia production. CO₂ resulting from the process could then be captured and stored in offshore reservoirs.

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Under the co-operation agreement signed by the three companies, the group will seek to mature a technical and commercial solution for the project, known as Barents Blue. This solution would guide further studies and a potential investment decision in the future.

Ammonia is primarily used in the chemical industry and for the production of fertilisers, but if produced in a carbon neutral way, it has also been proposed as an energy carrier for hydrogen and as a shipping fuel.